I was born in October 1945, just a month after Japan’s formal surrender. So for more than 60 years I have thought of myself as a Baby Boomer. We were the pig in the python and I was proud to be a part of the porker.

But just in the last year or so, I’ve learned to my chagrin I’m not a Boomer. The U.S. Census Bureau and other organizations claim a Baby Boomer is someone born between 1946 and 1964. So who am I and the million or so folks born in the few months after the war but before 1946? What do you call our niche of a generation?

Recently the people in charge of such things tell us that retiring Boomers are going to be re-dubbed Golden Boomers because of all the money they’re going to spend having a good time and staying healthy. The first wave of Goldens is due to retire next year sometime. So I’ve decided to lead the way once more: I’m retiring and leaving my post as editor-in-chief and GM of Uptown News, effective this issue. And since I officially can’t be a Golden Boomer, I would submit that my generational twilight zone group be known as Platinum Pre-Boomers (PPBs).

I look forward to becoming one of the first PPBs, but I do this with a tinge of sadness. I have very much enjoyed being part of such a talented team of veteran journalists, designers and marketing pros. I have loved watching Uptown News grow and get better with each issue. I have sincerely appreciated the overwhelmingly positive response from our readers and advertisers. And I loved writing about the community’s history and people, not to mention doing research for my food and wine columns.

When Publisher David Mannis asked me to help him create Uptown News, I told him I had planned to retire soon but would give it six months or so to get it going. Those six months turned into almost a year. I leave our award-winning newspaper in good hands. David Mannis continues his commitment to provide Uptown citizens with the best community newspaper in the region. And Uptown News has in place an outstanding editorial staff led by Christy Scannell who have embraced and enhanced our vision for a local community newspaper with a major-daily-newspaper professionalism.

I hope you have enjoyed my columns and stories as much as I did writing them. But you haven’t heard the last of me. I will continue to write for Uptown News from time to time with the latest from the wine and food world as I know it. But for now my mission is to lead the PPB generation into retirement. After all, someone has to show the Boomers the way – again.

Cheers.
Ron James
PPB